Be Where You Are

Part One:  Be Where You Are

Sounds simple, doesn’t it?  Be where you are.  You might even ask, “Where else would I be?”  The probable answer is, “Somewhere else.”

Sure, your body is in that meeting, but where is your mind?  Thinking about the grocery shopping, your kid’s report card, your next race, your last dinner, your to-do list, your car repair bill, your....  You get the idea.  

Later, you head out for a bike ride, and where is your mind?  Thinking about that meeting you didn’t pay attention in, your work to-do list, the grocery shopping, the....  You get the idea.

And then you get home.  Instead of spending time with family, you’re sitting in the room with them, playing on your phone, answering work emails, half-listening to details of the day, thinking about that meeting or your next training session.

So:  Where are you?  To quote the musical group Rush, “Anywhere but here”.

What are we accomplishing with this pattern?  When we’re at work, we think of home; when we’re at home, we’re distracted by work.  Neither place is getting our undivided attention, and everything is suffering for it.

Think your family wants you to be ‘at work’ when you’re with them?

Think you’re boss wants you ‘at home’ when you’re in the office?

Think you’re training is going to go well if you’re not focused?

Of course, things will come up:  if the little one is sick, you’re going to be distracted at the office.  A big presentation at work will distract you at home.  And I have some of my best thinking time when I’m training SBR.  But these should be the exception.

Try it:  next meeting, be at the meeting.  Next sales call, be with the client.  Next training session, focus on your body’s response to small changes and the feedback you get.

And most importantly, when you’re with friends and family, put the smartphone away and turn the computer and TV off.  Be there with your family, chat about the day.  Sure, you can talk about work or training, but that’s a conversation, not focusing on it at the expense of the person in the room.  Twitter/Facebook will survive without you checking every 5 minutes, and I’m certain that email can wait until later.

You will find success at home, work and training if you can be where you are.  It takes a little practice, and you will find days it is harder than others.  It does pay huge dividends by being more productive at work and training, and your family will get all of you - and isn’t that what they deserve?

To Be Continued...